Freedom TM

And I hear stupidity is genetic.”
    “Time is on their side, Mr. Fossen. Accept their offer, or the lawsuits will never end.”
    Just then the county sheriff’s patrol car pulled up behind the SUVs at the road.
    Everyone straightened up as the sheriff got out. He was about Fossen’s age, with a trim, military look about him. He pointedly left his shotgun in the car. He put on his Stetson and walked calmly out to the field to join the assembly.
    He gestured to the axe handle in Fossen’s hand. “A bit early in the season for baseball, isn’t it?” The sheriff looked to the others. “Everyone all right?”
    Fossen kept his eye on the private detectives. “Who called you out, Dave?”
    “You wanna do me a favor and put that axe handle down?” He looked to the three strangers, one of whom was retrieving the pieces of his wrecked camera. “As much as these fellas probably deserve a beating, you and I both know you can’t afford it.”
    “They’re on my land illegally.”
    “No. No, they’re not, Hank. They got the state court involved.
    Brigitte just told me on the radio. They’ll call out the state police if necessary to enforce it.”
    The three men chuckled and started gathering up their equipment.
    Fossen took a deep breath to calm himself. “I don’t know how this is legal. How is this legal?”
    The sheriff came closer and gently lifted the axe handle out of Fossen’s hands. He spoke quietly so the others couldn’t hear. “Hank, listen to me. Just get back on your tractor and finish spraying. They
want
you to lose your cool. Hank Senior wouldn’t have wasted his time with these idiots.”
    “My father did everything right. And they still almost bankrupted us. Hell they
would
have if …” Fossen stared with hatred at the men. “He never stole anything in his life. My father was cleaning seeds for people in this county for decades. And his father before him. You need to know that, Dave.”
    “I know it, Hank.”
    “Why doesn’t anyone else fight back? Why do they let them do this?”
    “Because they’re afraid. People are hurting. They’re one lawsuit away from losing everything.”
    “Halperin drove my father to do it. He only did it so we could keep the farm.”
    The sheriff nodded grimly. “Everyone knows that. No one was more respected than Hank Senior.”
    One of the men called out. “I hope your son is smarter than you, Hank. Or some jihadi’s gonna blow him to smithereens.”
    The sheriff turned to them. “Hey,
I’m
a veteran. You want to make sick jokes about soldiers? What if I slapped you with a disorderly conduct charge? Who do you think your employer will believe? You or me? And you think any of your bosses might be veterans?”
    They just glared.
    “That’s what I thought, now pack up your shit and come back later. I’m all of out of patience with you three.”
    They gave him the evil eye and dragged their feet as they went. The lead one called out before he got in the car. “Uncooperative local officials find themselves outspent in elections, Sheriff.”
    The sheriff stood alongside Fossen as they watched the men get in their SUVs and drive off. He handed Fossen back his axe handle. “Damn good thing you didn’t have a head on that, or you might have been in serious trouble.”
    “Thanks for talking me down.”
    “I’ve been wanting to come out and talk to you and Lynn anyway.”
    “What about?”
    “Do you and Jenna talk much, Hank?”
    Fossen narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean? What’s she been up to?”
    “Look, I don’t mean to pry into your business, but I’ve been seeing her hanging out with some strange characters here in Greeley.”
    Fossen sighed. “Damnit. It’s like I don’t even know her since she came back. She’s just been moping around the house for months since she graduated. There aren’t any jobs—here or anywhere else.”
    “Look, I know things are terrible right now, but it’s even stranger than that.” He thumbed in the direction of his patrol car. “Remember when Sheriff Pearson patrolled this county? He had a pistol and half the time he didn’t even wear it. Well, I carry a shotgun, an M16, and two pistols in the car. Crystal meth changed everything. Our department’s been in eight shootouts in four years.”
    “Jesus, you’re not telling me that Jenna is involved with drug gangs?”
    “Jenna? No, that’s not where I’m going with that.”
    “Thank god.”
    “My point is that suddenly—like in a single